Debunking Common Myths About Pregnancy and Childbirth with Doula & Midwife, Melissa Dean
"The big difference between midwives and doctors are midwives spend time building a relationship with you."
We are so excited to be joined in this episode by Melissa Dean, a midwife and founder of Casa Natal Birth and Wellness Center! We discuss her journey from being a doula to becoming a midwife. We also answer many of the questions we had in our previous episode on labor and delivery, emphasizing the importance of holistic care. Melissa explains the difference between doulas and midwives, with doulas providing emotional and physical support during labor and midwives offering medical care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. She also shares the challenges of being a midwife: namely, being on call and the long hours involved in her work. Melissa highlights the rewarding experience of being a part of the birthing process and the trust that she builds with clients. She also discusses the common myths misconceptions about childbirth portrayed in TV shows and the importance of allowing the body to naturally progress during labor.
We debunk the idea that water breaking is the first sign of labor and clarify that it usually happens closer to the end. They also address the fear of giving birth on the toilet and explain that while it can happen, it's not common. Melissa shares insights about water births and describes the birthing center environment, which is often compared to a comfortable hotel room. We finish by discussing the importance of trust in the birth process and the benefits of choosing a birthing center, such as personalized care and informed consent. Melissa also mentions the dedication and responsibility required to be a midwife or doula.
Meet Melissa Dean:
Melissa Dean is the owner and director of Casa Natal Birthing Center in Morgan Hill, California. She is a graduate of the National Midwifery Institute. Before becoming a midwife, she was a doula. Melissa has over 20 years of experience supporting birthing families. And 19 years ago she helped bring Nadia into this world as our family's doula!
Get in Touch & Learn More:
website: https://casa-natal.com/
email: casanatalinfo@gmail.com
Takeaways
The role of a doula is to provide emotional and physical support during labor, while midwives offer medical care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
Building a relationship with clients and gaining their trust is a crucial aspect of midwifery care.
Being on call and working long hours are some of the challenges faced by midwives.
The birthing process is often portrayed inaccurately in TV shows, with labor typically taking much longer than depicted.
Allowing the body to progress naturally during labor is important for a positive birth experience. Water breaking is not always the first sign of labor and usually happens closer to the end.
Giving birth on the toilet is possible but not common.
Birthing centers offer a comfortable and home-like environment for labor and delivery.
Choosing a birthing center allows for personalized care and informed consent.
Being a midwife or doula requires dedication, trust in the birth process, and the ability to provide support and guidance.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Melissa's Background
03:08 Becoming a Doula and Midwife
07:35 Different Types of Midwives
09:56 Training to Become a Doula
10:09 Training to Become a Midwife
12:20 Insurance Coverage for Midwifery Care
14:30 Most Rewarding Aspects of Being a Midwife
22:27 Postpartum Care and Insurance Reimbursement
26:19 Common Misconceptions About Childbirth
28:32 Debunking Common Myths
30:07 Water Breaking and Timing of Labor
34:38 Birthing Center Experience
44:49 Importance of Trust and Informed Consent
48:28 Dedication and Responsibility of Midwives and Doulas
